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MHA leaves govt redfaced again

TNN | Updated: Nov 28, 2008, 4:41 IST

NEW DELHI: It has been the government's worst-kept secret that the home ministry isn't in the safest of hands. It has been less than sure-footed in its political impulses as home minister Shivraj Patil wavered between offering a "soft touch" and putting a firm hand to the wheel and sometimes ended up doing nothing much at all.The policy inaction has repeatedly hurt the government on a wide variety of fronts. The Jammu agitation was allowed to rage for more than 40 days before the ministry seriously engaged the protesters. The on-off approach to Ulfa has created a tinderbox in the northeast. Poor preparation has marred talks with Pakistan while intelligence failure has been the bane of terror attacks.

Just days before home secretary Madhukar Gupta was to leave this month for Pakistan, papers dealing with the visit were found to be rather similar in content to those taken up previously. The explanation that the note had subtle connotations did not wash with a revision being sought ahead of Gupta���s visit.This is not the only time home ministry���s shoddy work showed up. A coherent policy on the Valley and Jammu agitations was formulated only after the PM deputed national security advisor M K Narayanan to visit Srinagar. It led to firm handling of Valley separatists, till then allowed the run of way. Later, the government decided to back elections in J&K only when the PM pitched in with the crucial backing of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.Under Patil's wobbly stewardship, home ministry officials have become a dispirited lot. In his interactions, Patil is often brusque and officials tend to come away resentful and confused. The minister remains in denial unless events force a change of course. After denying there was anything like a "Red corridor", the minister has had to agree to a special anti-Maoist force. In his bid to reach out to militants as ���misguided youth���, Patil failed to realise that the Centre must command fear and respect first.